I want to grow financially. I want to start a grocery shop and a household items shop. This will help me make profits and use them to help my husband in catering for our family needs and even be able to at least support my child who just completed primary school education and will be joining secondary school next year with personal needs.

Everything was crystal clear and well understood. I don't think you need to do it differently

From the money I received, I used $80 to pay off school fees balances for my four children who are in primary school. One of the four Children was in Class 8 and needed to stay in school to attend classes and prepare for the primary school final examinations. Seeing my child concentrating with school and not worried about missing classes was a relief for both of us. I utilized $350 of the transfer to buy buliding materials and labour to finish the construction of my house, which had been delayed for some time. I was relieved to see the house progressing because I would have needed more years to complete it alone. The house is not finished yet, but from where I am now, I am grateful and full of optimism that I can finish it with whatever little money I manage to generate via my hustles. The remainder was spent on food and home supplies for my family

As the clock struck 3 in the warm afternoon sun, I had just returned from the shop and was settling into a moment of respite when the notification chimed on my phone. My heart raced as I read the message confirming the arrival of my first unconditional cash transfer from GiveDirectly. A surge of happiness washed over me, and tears welled up in my eyes, for I knew this meant I could finally complete the construction of my permanent house. It was a dream I had nurtured for so long, and in that instant, it felt within reach, filling me with profound gratitude and an overwhelming sense of hope for the future.

Receiving unconditional cash transfers from GiveDirectly has brought about the most significant change in my life. The ability to pay for my children's education has been the greatest blessing, as I've always yearned to see all my kids prosper through schooling, a privilege I never had. Witnessing them go to school every morning fills me with hope and courage as a mother. I firmly believe that they are on the path to a brighter future, one that will break the cycle of poverty that has plagued our household for generations. The challenges they used to face, including sporadic attendance and missed exams, are now becoming a thing of the past, and I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities that unconditional cash transfers have brought to our family.

I spent a significant portion of the recent unconditional cash transfer, about $200, on building materials—cement, bricks, and sand—to finally complete the construction of my house. This project held immense importance for me, as I had been stuck in a half-finished structure for quite some time. Upgrading to a proper house was a dream come true, especially given the cramped conditions of our previous home, which could barely accommodate my family of six. The feeling of accomplishment as the walls went up and the roof was put in place was indescribable; it was not just a house, but a symbol of progress and stability for my family. Additionally, I used $100 to purchase a new mattress for my five children. The old ones had worn out, and they were often uncomfortable and in pain. It warms my heart to know that they now have a comfortable place to sleep. With the remaining funds, I was able to pay the school fees for all my children, who are in lower grades. I work as a substantial farmer, and my spouse earns around $10 as a casual laborer. Balancing our limited income to meet all our needs has always been a challenge, and paying their school fees on time has been the most significant hurdle. Seeing them off to school for the rest of the year with their fees settled brings me immense relief and joy.